Improvement in lanterns



UNITED STATES PArnN'r @Prion JOHN J. MARCY, OF BBIDGEBORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRIDGE- PORT BRASS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN LANTERNS.

Specification forming-part of Letters Patent No. 149,768, dated April 14, 1874 application filed April 3, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. MARCY, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lanterns, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to that class of lanterns in which the glass chimney or shade is combined with a metallic cap, and a loop or strap, which is secured to the main body or frame of the lantern and passes up over said cap, and is provided with means for pressing upon said cap for the purpose of holding it and the glass chimney in place.

In this class of vlanterns it has heretofore been customary to use a rigid presser or fastening device-as, for instance, a screw or a cam-which is open to the twofold objection that it will not yieldand adapt itself automatically to the varying `expansion and contraction of the chimney and cap, and that .it is liable to work loose, and so permit the parts to rattle and shake about, and even drop out of place.,

I obviate both of the above objections by combining` with said strap or loop a springpresser, which bears upon the cap with a yielding pressure, constant in its nature, and yet allowing the presser to at once adapt itself to expansion or contraction of the chimney and cap.

In the accompanying drawing I have represented the manner in which my invention is or may b'e carried into effect.

Figure l is a perspective view of a lantern embodying my invention. Fig. 2 isa vertical central section of the upper portion of the same. Fig. 3 is a like section of a like portion of the lantern, with a slightly-modified form of presser or locking-pin.

A is the base of the lantern. B is the glass shade or chimney resting 0n said base. C is the lantern-cap, tting on top of the chimney. D is the loop or strap, which may be either rigidly fastened at a to the base A, or pivoted or jointed at the same point so as to be capable of swinging on a as an axis. E is the bail or handle, and F, the wire guardring. These parts are of the usual construction.

rI provide that part of the loop or strap;

the pinV is provided with a knob, by means of which it may be lifted against the pressure of the spring whenever desired. This arrangement of a spring-presser is very cheap and convenient, and is that which in practice I employ.

The same result can be attained by other arrangementsof the spring-as, for instance, that shown in Fig. 4, where the pin plays through a box, d, in which is contained an encircling spiral spring, e, bearing at its upper end against the top of the box, and at its lower end against an offset or collar on the pin. The pin can be provided for a portion of' its length with a pin or spline, f,whicl 1 serves both to guide the pin when the latter is down, and to sustain the pin when elevated in its raised position, this being effected by slightly rotating the pin, after it has been sufficiently elevated to bring the spline out of the box, so as to throw the spline out of coincidence with groove in the top of the box in which it works. The pin is shown thus raised and supported in Fig. 3.

An advantage resulting from the use of the spring-presser is that the chimney and lantern-cap can be sprung or snapped into place, or removed, without necessitating manipulation of the spring-presser, whichywill yield or give when the cap is either pushed under or drawn out away from it.

The device is thus entirely automatic, and requires no handling or attention from the party using the lantern. It adapts itself to irregularities in the size of the chimney, will always exercise pressure suficient to hold the cap and chimney firmly and closely together, and will at the same time yield to the expansion of said parts due to their heating when neotion With saidy parts, as herein shown and the lantern is lighted. set forth.

Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Let- In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed ters Patent as an improvement in lanterns of my name this 30th day of March, A. '1). 187 4..

the kind herein specified, is

The combination, with the lantern-cap, and the loop or strap attached to the main body Witnesses: or base of the lantern, of the spring-presser ISAAC E. OSBORN, or holding-pin, arranged and operating in con- RANSOM MATTHEWS.

JOHN J. MARCY. 

